Machine for assembling grid partitions



July 14, 1942- L. L. MALLARD MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING GRID PARTITIONS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed NOV. 4, 1940 July 14, 1942. v L, L, MALLARD A 2,289,849

MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING GRID PARTITIONS Filed Nov. 4, 1940 2 sheets-'sheet 2 Patented July 14, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING GRID PARTITIONS Logan L. Mallard, Norfolk, Va.

Application November 4, 1940, Serial No. 364,300

7 Claims. (Cl. 25J-84) This invention relates to a machine for assembling grid members and the like, and has been devised particularly for assembling longitudinal and lateral ice cube tray partitions of that `type having interengaging slots which in one of the partitions are closed or substantially closed at the lower edge of the partition, such for example as the partitions for ice cube trays illustrated in my copending application, Serial No. 305,552, filed November 21, 1939. Grid members or partitions of this type are shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the longitudinal partition being indicated at A and one of the transverse partitions at B. The longitudinal partition is formed with slots a which are closed at the lower edge of the slot (the partitions being inverted yin Figs. 4 and 5) although the metal at this point is cut through or separated, permitting the metal between the slots to flex laterally of the partition. The transverse partition B is formed with an open slot b which is inserted into the slot a of the longitudinal partition and straddles the metal of the said latter partition above this slot. These grid partitions are generally formed of sheet metal such as aluminum alloy which has suflicient inherent flexibility to permit limited flexing without imparting a permanent bend or set to the metal.

The assembling of these longitudinal and transverse partitions presents a problem, since it is difficult for one individual or a single workman to do the assembling operation in the time required to produce a grid unit which may be sold competitively in the open market; and it is an object of the present invention to provide a machine which will expedite this assembling operation.

While the machine is primarily adapted for assembling grid members or partitions for ice cube trays, it obviously may be used for assembling other parts having characteristics .of a similar nature.

A, In the drawings:

Fig. l is a top plan view of a machine embodying the features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 2 2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in rear elevation of the machine;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective of the assembling table showing the transverse grid partitions being assembled with respect to the central longitudinal partition; and

Fig. 5. is a view taken substantially on the line 5--5, Fig. 4.

`posite directions as indicated in Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the machine comprisesa main supporting frame including uprights IIJa and Ib and an assembling table Ic supported by said uprights.

Secured to the underside Vof .the `table and depending therefrom is a pair of guide brackets II of similar construction, each of which is formed with an elongated substantially vertical guide slot I2, note particularly Fig. 2. A shaft I3 projects through the transversely aligned slots I2 and at an intermediate point is supported or carried by a yoke I4 having connected thereto a link rod I which extends downwardly and at its lower end is pivotally connected to a foot treadle I6, the latter being mounted on a supporting bracket lI'I having adjustable contacts I8 and I9 4at opposite ends thereof adapted to engage the treadle and limit its rocking movement and thus limit the movement of the parts actuated by the treadle. At the point Where the shaft projects 'through the aligned slots I2, said shaft is provided with friction or bearing rollers and 20a.

The reference numerals 2| and 2Ia indicate gripping arms of similar construction, each having a jaw 22 on the outer `end thereof. These jaws are preferably lined with friction and cushioning material 22a, such as rubber, to hold the jaws against displacement and to `prevent marring of lthe metal gripped thereby. The arms 2| and 2| a are arranged in staggered relation longitudinally of the machine, note Fig. 1,

`and are adapted to engage the bottom edge of the longitudinal partition and distort or deflect portions of the latter between the slots in op- The arms 2I and 2Ia are carried by sleeves 23 and 23a. which are rotatable about shafts 24 and 24a, rearward or backward rotation of the said arms being limited by stops 25 and 25a and forward and downward rotation being limited by stops 26 and 26a.

The shafts 24 and 24a. are supported at opposite ends by actuating arms 2l and 21a, there being a pair of these arms at each end of the machine rotatably mounted or fulcrumed on stub shafts 28 and 28a, supported by the table Ic the latter being slotted at 29 to accommodate mounting and movement of the arms. At their lower ends the arms 21, 21a are formed with slots 30 through which the opposite ends of the shaft I3 project.

The table |0c is provided with a grid partition support 3| having therein a slot 3Ia adapted to receive the top edge of a longitudinal grid partition; and at spaced intervals along the member 3| are braces 32 to lend stability to the grid partition during the assembling operation, note Fig. 4.

The machine operates as follows:

A longitudinal grid partition A is inserted in the slot 3Ia between the braces 32, the arms 2l and 2Ia. at this time being swung .back manually or by hand to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2. The arms 2|, 2Ia are then swung down to grip the partition A in a manner shown in Fig. 4, the arms 2| engaging alternate portions of the partition between the slots a and the arms 2Ia engaging the portions between those Vengaged by the arms 2l, note also Fig. l. In the position of Fig. 2 the longitudinal partition has been gripped ready for the spreading operation. The foot treadle I6 is then operated to pull'the shaft I3 downwardly, whereupon the arms '2| and 2 Ia are pushed inwardly, flexing and spreading the longitudinalpartition A andpermitting the transverse partitions B to' be readilyl inserted in the slots a. The-foot treadle'is then worked in the opposite direction and the shaft I3 raised, the inherentexibility of the metal or material of which the longitudinal partitionA is made causing the said partition to assume its original shape and the arms'2l and ,2| a returning tothe position shown in Figs. 1 and"2. If the material of .thelongitudinal partition A is. not inherently resilient or does not vtend to assume its original shape, then the arms 2|,.2IJa-may Ybe returned forcibly to their original ,position Yto thereby bend the `alternately flexed .or bent portions of said partition .back to its original shape.

The adjustable-stops I8 vand I9 for .treadle I5 provide meansfor,` accurately determining .or adjusting the .limit ofexingmovement `o1 thearms 2 I, 2 Ia as well as providingameans for4 aligning the jaw .22 oarriedby said arms.

It will -be understood that certain changes in construction and design may be made to adapt the machine to varying conditions of use without departing from the spiritforscope of the invention as. dened .bythe appendedclaims.

.What isclaimed is:

V1. In a machine for assembling ,longitudinal and transverse grid partitions for ice cubetrays of that type whereinamain longitudinal .central partition is provided with slots substantially closed at the one edge `of thepartition, an assembling table having an elongated groove therein to receive the one edge of the-longitudinal partition and support the latter .edgewise in inverted position, a pluralityof `arms arranged in 4staggered opposed alternate sets, v.each .arm having a jaw on thel end thereof adapted to grip thevfree slotted edge of the longitudinal partition, levers operatively connected Ito'said arms, means for actuating said levers tomove .the alternate sets of said arms in counter directions to spread alternate portions of the longitudinal partition .betweenrthe slots and.openthe,latter to permit insertion of transverse partitions.

42. In a machine .for assembling longitudinal and transverse grid partitions for-ice tube trays of that type wherein a longitudinal-partition is provided with slots which` are substantially closed at the lower edge of the partition but permit flexing of the latter to open the slots to-receive the transverse partitions. an assembling table having means for supportinga longitudinal partition edgewise ininvertedposition, a seriesof alternately arranged roppositely disposed sets of arms having jaws on the ends thereof adapted to grip the slotted edge of the partition in spaced relation therealong between the slots, sleeve members pivotally mounting said arms whereby each set may be swung as a unit into and from gripping relation with respect to the longitudinal partition, levers operatively connected to said sleeve members, said levers being fulcrumed at an intermediate point, means connected to said levers whereby the latter may be actuated to move the sets of arms in directions counter to one another to flex the longitudinal partition.

3. In a machine for assembling parts such as longitudinal and transverse grid partitions for ice cube trays of that type wherein a longitudinal partition is provided with slots which are substantially closed at one edge of the partition but permit flexing of the latter to open the slots to receive the transverse partitions, an assembling table having means for supporting a longitudinal partition edgewise with the slotted edge exposed, a series of alternately arranged oppositely disposedsets of .arms having jaws on the ends thereofadapted to grip the slotted edge of the partition in spaced relation therealong between the slots, sleeves rigidly connecting the arms cf each set to one another for manual rotation to jaw-gripping and releasing position, shafts on which said sleeves are rotatably mounted, levers supporting said shafts, said levers being fulcrumed at an intermediate point and at their lower ends converging in overlapping relation at an angle and being provided with elongated slots in registration one-with the other, an operating shaft projecting through said slots, and means for raising and lowering .said operating shaft whereby said levers are actuated or rocked to move the sets of arms in vdirections counter to one another to thereby ex the slotted portions of said longitudinal partition and permit insertion of transverse partitions.

4.In a machine for assembling longitudinal and transverse grid partitions for ice cube trays of that type wherein a longitudinal partition is provided with slots which are substantially closed at the one edge of the partition but permit flexing of the latter to open the slots to receive the transverse partitions, a main supporting frame including an assembling table having means thereon for supporting a longitudinal partition edgewise in inverted position, a series of alternately varranged oppositely disposed sets of arms each having a jaw on the end thereof adapted to grip the slotted edge of the longitudinal partition in spaced relation therealong between the slots, sleeves rigidly connecting the arms of each set, shafts rotatably mounting said sleeves to-permit the sets of arms to be manually rotated to move thejaws into and ,from gripping position, rocking levers pivotally supporting said shafts, said levers being fulcrumed or pivoted at an intermediate point and at their lower ends converging at an angle in overlapping relation and being provided with elongated slots in registration one with the other, a main operating shaft projecting at opposite ends through said slots, means for raising and lowering said shaft to in yturn rock said levers and move said arms in directions counter to one another to thereby flex alternate portions of said longitudinal partition, and guide means for said shaft restraining the latter to a substantially vertical path.

5. In a machine for assembling parts such as longitudinaland transversegrid partitions for ice cube trays of that type wherein a longitudinal partition is provided with slots which are substantially closed at one edge of the partition but permit flexing of the latter to open the slots to receive the transverse partitions, a series of alternately arranged oppositely disposed arms having jaws on the ends thereof adapted to grip the slotted edge of the partition in spaced relation therealong, means for actuating said arms in directions counter to one another to oppositely flex or bend portions of the partition along the length of the latter, and anti-friction and cushioning means for said jaws to hold the latter in gripping relation to the edge of the partition and prevent mutilation of the latter.

6. In a machine for assembling parts such as longitudinal and transverse grid partitions for ice cube trays of that type wherein a longitudinal partition is provided with slots which are substantially closed at one edge of the partition but permit iiexing of the latter to open the slots to receive the transverse partitions, a series of alternately arranged oppositely disposed arms having jaws on the ends thereof adapted to grip the slotted edge oi the partition in spaced relation therealong, means for actuating said arms in directions counter to one another to oppositely flex or bend portions of the partition along the length of the latter, and adjustable means for limiting the movement of said arms;

7. In a machine for assembling longitudinal and transverse grid partitions for ice cube trays of that type wherein a main longitudinal central partitie-n is provided with slots substantially closed at the one edge of the partition, a plurality of arms arranged in staggered opposed alternate sets, each arm having a jaw on the end thereof adapted to grip the free slotted edge of the longitudinal partition, levers operatively connected to said arms, means for actuating said levers to move the alternate sets oi said arms in counter directions to spread alternate portions of the longitudinal partition between the slots and Open the latter to permit insertion of transverse partitions.

LOGAN L. MALLARD. 

